SI Road to Equality Co-ordinator Ayushi Kundu reports.
“The Lugari Youth Leadership Project is a Leadership Training Programme established by Willing Hearts Society of Canada in Kenya, a project supported by the SI President’s Appeal since 2020.
Set up to empower girls ages 14-18, the Lugari Youth Leadership Project focuses on leadership training, and building engagement in peace building, good governance, human rights, finances, health, media, entrepreneurship, and in increasing community connection.
Once the girls complete their training they return home to utilise their skills and implement and innovate projects that directly serve the needs of their own communities, becoming catalysts of positive change. With increased confidence, and a stronger more definite voice, the girls can become leaders and peace builders, and act to bring about change, and to end harmful gender discriminatory practices such as FGM, child marriage, and domestic violence; some of the themes we advocate for under the Road to Equality Appeal.
The Leadership Project was chosen for support in celebration of its 10th Anniversary in 2020. The allocation of £7,500 meant that plans could be put in place to support 200-250 girls (instead of the typical 100-150 girls) through the programme. In addition to this, a study tour was planned for Soroptimists to visit the camp and see this empowering project in progress. The continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the plans, however, these are now tentatively scheduled for November or December 2021, subject to the circumstances. Even if the pandemic means it is not possible to conduct the Soroptimist Study Tour, the girls, through this wonderful project, will be supported by the SI President’s Appeal.
Phase 1 of the construction work at the Community Resource Centre
Furthermore, time has not stood still in Lugari, and during the pandemic, a further £9,626 was awarded to restart construction work on the Lugari Community Resource Centre, and provide electricity, work which was previously paused due to a lack of funds. With your help, accommodation will be ready and available for the girls attending the camp, with construction of the framework of the building completed in January 2021. The team is on schedule to achieve its target date for completion of the second phase of the planned construction project, including the installation of electricity in the building.
Needless to say, the Community Resource Centre will provide a more conducive environment for the training of future young leaders, and create a more sustainable environment for the programme to excel in the years that follow, whilst increasing the number of girls who can be welcomed to the training programme.”
- Further stories on the Lugari Youth Training Project HERE
Lead Image: The Community Resource Centre in its second phase of construction, with the building of four classrooms.